How many of us have a slow-cooker that we’ve only ever used once or twice, but we hold on to ‘just in case’? How many of us make a journey in the car with four empty passenger seats? How many of us own a tent that we use no more than a couple of days over the summer? And on the flip side, how many of us have loft space in our homes that is only ever half-full?

Most of us are guilty of wastage in one form or another but – according to the French writer Hervé Kempf – the answer is simple:

“Consume less; share better.”

Hervé Kempf

Kempf’s mandate is borne out of good, old-fashioned common sense. It seems obvious that the solution to all this wastage is sharing, but what Hervé doesn’t impart through his little nugget of wisdom, is how one can share better. We take a look at the options…

Friends and relatives?

The fact of the matter is, if you solely rely on friends and family for sharing, the number of people from whom you can borrow will be pretty small. The chances are Uncle Mike will need his power drill for some DIY on the weekend you were hoping to borrow it. And when you’re in the process of moving house and need to store your stuff, Kate’s garage is full of equipment for that sports day she’s organising.

There’s also ‘the informality factor’ with friends and family, which can sometimes lead to awkwardness. The tupperware collection that goes astray, the sander they claim was theirs all along. It’s not that you can’t trust them, it’s just that with people you know well you’d never think to make a note of where things end up.

Neighbours?

Local communities, it seems, are becoming less well-integrated, with fewer people knowing their neighbours well enough to chat to – let alone borrow a lawn mower from. In 2009 Circle Anglia conducted a survey that revealed people aged 65 or over were pretty likely to know their neighbours, with 82% of those questioned saying they chat with neighbours regularly. However, the issue becomes apparent when it comes to the under-25s, a mere 44% of whom said they’d talk with their neighbours.

Strangers?

Though it may not seem the most appealing option it is rapidly becoming the most sensible. This is down to new online services and communities and the rise of a phenomenon called ‘Collaborative Consumption’. Put simply the idea is for people to connect with strangers for mutual sharing benefit. As such the small sharing base one has with friends and family – and even neighbours – becomes infinitely larger and more regulated.

Unlocking the potential of sharing

It isn’t just drills and lawn mowers that are on offer through this new phenomenon, as you’ll see from the examples below:

• rentmyitems.com: This is as simple as it sounds. Rent everything from step ladders to wedding bunting, or offer something you own for others to rent.
• sooqini.com: People share skills and expertise on this clever marketplace, where you can find everything from a PA, to someone who’ll assemble Ikea furniture for you.
• deskwanted.com: Indexes more than 1,500 coworking spaces and shared offices worldwide and is great for small, flexible businesses and people on the move.
• knok.com: A home-swap hub designed to make holidays cheaper through sharing.
• roomcentral.co.uk: The smart way to find a flat or house-mate, sharing your spare space to make some extra cash.
• skilio.com: Skilio lets you teach and learn via Live Webcam. Share skills and knowledge in their smart online classrooms.
• gocarshare.com: Allows you to enter a journey you’re planning and ride along with someone who’s going the same way. A clever way to spread the cost of ever-more expensive petrol.
• sharemystorage: With self-storage space at a premium, it makes much more sense to share. This smart storage solution is cheaper, greener and local to you.

The benefits of sharing with strangers…

1. Economical – Lenders save money on everything from petrol to the price they originally paid for an item. Meanwhile borrowers save money since they don’t have to fork out for brand new items.
2. Secure – Records are kept of any lending, borrowing and sharing that takes place.
3. Green – We all consume less and put Kempf’s excellent instruction into practice!

Many people are quite averse to the concept of hybrid cars. As with all new technologies, they have had their teething problems, while many other people simply see such vehicles as a fad that is more the preserve of celebrities than themselves. However, this is a shame because in reality, there is a lot going for hybrids, particularly as they mature and become more efficient with each new release.

Those who are looking at Evans Halshaw new car sales should certainly check out hybrid ranges, as they come with a large number of ecological benefits. The clean energy of the electrical motor, when combined with the power of the petrol-powered engine, leads to lower emissions and more miles to the gallon. Fewer emissions means that they qualify for smaller road tax bills and, if you’re in London, you can even escape the expensive congestion charge.

On top of this, motorists buying hybrids may even qualify for an ultra-low emission car grant with the government, which means that 25 per cent of the car’s value is paid on your behalf up to a maximum value of £5,000. This came in as part of the 2010 Spending Review and will extend to the end of this parliament cycle, at the very least.
The government has asserted that this “technology neutral approach” to reducing transport emissions is important for the future of the country, particularly in order for it to separate itself from a dependency on fossil fuels. Cars with tailpipe emissions of 75g C02/km or less – from electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen-fuelled cars – are all eligible for the subsidy. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that qualifying cars are more financially comparable with their petrol or diesel alternatives.

As manufacturers make these cars in larger numbers, it should make it more affordable than ever to get the maximum benefit from this deal. However, 2011 was hailed as the year of the hybrid and electric car’s breakthrough. After the Nissan Leaf announcement in March – claimed as the world’s first ever mass-market electric car – the floodgates were opened for marques looking to compete; the Peugeot iOn, Citroen CZero and an electric Smart fortwo were all announced.

Speaking to the Guardian during 2011 about this new direction for the industry, Chris Paine – director of the documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? – said: “In the first time in 90 years, people will actually have a chance to buy electric cars from major carmakers. Tesla, Nissan and GM are first out of the gate and almost every other car company has announced plans to join the race in 2012 and beyond. That’s what makes the next few years so exciting.” You can see a trailer for the documentary below:

Although the practice of using a mobile phone while driving has been outlawed in most countries it remains one of the leading causes of road accidents. In America alone almost 81% of drivers admit to sacrificing safety for the convenience of communicating with business associates, family or friends from behind the wheel of their car. UK surveys have found the same apparent apathy displayed by road users despite the soaring number of offenders who daily receive fines, penalty points and in some cases even prison time. Shocking statistics released by swiftcover.com, a motoring insurer, reveal just how big a problem this has become and the horrific level of disregard shown by so many for their own safety and that of others. As a deterrent this law is obviously having very little effect and some are now suggesting that if penalties are not working, then perhaps rewards may. Drivers who make use of the latest technology such as hands-free systems or Bluetooth headsets could soon find their responsible behaviour reflected in lower insurance premiums.

With more than 200,000 drivers currently being punished for mobile related offences and the steady 30% rise in that statistic recorded annually it is clear that the solution lies not in the law alone. The ‘black box’ technology which is currently persuading insurers to adjust insurance premiums according to the individual driver’s performance may soon not be enough. There is now a move afoot in the motoring insurance industry to encourage drivers to make use of smartphone technology. An innovative driving app which is downloaded to a driver’s own smartphone to record the individual’s driving patterns may soon revolutionise safe driving inducements even further. Unlike the ‘black box’ it is said to require only 200 miles of recording in order to establish a driver profile based on acceleration, braking and cornering. Drivers who are distracted are the ones most likely to offend, and using a mobile phone will definitely have a negative effect on driving performance. Bluetooth headsets and hands-free systems go a long way to eradicating this potentially fatal practice.

It seems only fair that conscientious drivers stop subsidising the irresponsible or downright reckless road users. If technology is available that distinguishes good drivers from bad, then making use of it should perhaps become a standard requirement either fitted inside a car, or on a smartphone. The sheer number of lives lost or devastated in road accidents surely warrants such a law particularly when current legislature is clearly failing. Motoring insurers are certainly leading the way in ensuring the greatest possible level of safety on our roads.